Wisconsin v. Walker
by Tom Sullivan
Ever since Wisconsin’s Scott Walker gave his 2015 bobble-head speech announcing an ill-fated run for president, we have waited. We have waited since Walker earlier in 2015 submitted a budget that removed from the University of Wisconsin’s century-old mission a mandate to “search for truth” and “improve the human condition” and replaced them with “meet the state’s workforce needs.” Walker quickly backed away after the news blew up on social media and news sites.
We have waited since Scott Walker survived a recall election in 2012, and since he signed into law the state’s controversial photo ID requirement in May of 2011. Since before that, even, when Ian Walker pranked Walker into thinking he was on the phone with David Koch, the “Tea Party sugar daddy.” That was February 2011, at the height of Walker’s battle to strip collective bargaining rights from Wisconsin’s public sector unions.
This fall, Walker is up for reelection again, finally. Wisconsinites decide today which of over a half dozen Democrats on Tuesday’s primary ballot will get a shot at replacing “the goggle-eyed homunculus hired by Koch Industries to manage their subsidiary formerly known as the state of Wisconsin.”
Lapping his opponents by +/- 20 points in RCP’s averages is Tony Evers, the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. Evers may have name recognition, but a Marquette poll indicates 38 percent of voters are still undecided and others in the Democratic pack have won name-brand endorsements, Vox notes:
Mahlon Mitchell, the president of the Professional Fire Fighters Association, has the support of California Sen. Kamala Harris. Kelda Helen Roys, a former state Assembly member, has the backing of New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (and Wisconsin’s most famed indie band, Bon Iver).
Whichever candidate wins tonight, mounting a statewide campaign for governor after a late primary leaves any challenger with a hard pull against a multi-term incumbent. Walker has raised $4.8 million for his campaign so far.
The Wisconsin Republican Party is not taking chances. Politico reports Republicans have already launched attack ads against four prospective Democratic candidates: the three mentioned above plus former Wisconsin Democratic Party chairman Matt Flynn. Once the Democrats have a nominee, the contrast will crystallize, says Republican strategist Mark Graul:
“The governor has been in sort of a vacuum. Either you’re for Scott Walker or you’re not for Scott Walker. And after Tuesday I think it’ll be ‘either you’re for Scott Walker or whether it be Evers or Roys or Mitchell,'” Graul said. “So there will be a clear contrast of what people’s choices are going to be in November.”
The sitting president has helpfully endorsed the governor he once described as “a mess” and “not smart.” (Trump has a fixation about smartness, doesn’t he?) Speaking of, Trump just endorsed Scott Walker after saying it would be “great” if motorcyclists boycotted Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson. From The Independent:
“Scott Walker of Wisconsin is a tremendous Governor who has done incredible things for that Great State,” he wrote. “He has my complete & total Endorsement! He brought the amazing Foxconn to Wisconsin with its 15,000 Jobs-and so much more. Vote for Scott on Tuesday in the Republican Primary!”
Walker and Trump belong together.
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